Presentation of older layers and findings on historical architecture using the method of analytical presentation: Example of the Old Town Hall in Bratislava, Slovakia

Abstract Analytical presentation is one of the methods used in the process of monument restoration. The method displays certain valuable older layers in the form of a cutout in the dominant layer of the facade´s surface. This article seeks to illustrate the method on the example of the facades of the Old Town Hall in Bratislava, Slovakia, and its restorations that were performed in several phases. The floor is presented in the Renaissance style – a part of the wall in medieval style over the arch of the underpass is exposed. The largest areas of analytical presentations are realized on the northern facade in the courtyard. The areas of arcades are restored in light beige colour, respecting the Renaissance colour palette. On the wall, research uncovered important medieval style findings and fragments of the chopped pillars of continuous balconies. A large-scale analytical probe encompassing two floors was realized. A system of various medieval windows, richly decorated and formed by a curved arch or triangular gable, is preserved here with some more recent openings in the Renaissance style. The main facade facing the town square could also be classified as a system of analytical presentations. The tower shows plaster in an Early Baroque style with various windows (Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque) on both facades (Main Square and Kostolná Street). Interesting are Late Gothic double windows with wimpergs. The rest of the facade facing the Main Square is prevailingly designed in the Renaissance style. But in the middle, there is a part reconstructed in the Gothic style with a rich curved decoration. Next to the tower, there is a Gothic portal with an arc and oriel above it. In the part of the Kostolná Street, there is a Gothic plaster reconstructed by applying two methods. One contains a grained plaster in sandy colour, the second has a surface with networking. Various windows and niches (medieval, Renaissance, Baroque) are present here. The complicated analytical presentations contained in the facades of the Old Town Hall raise many questions in the expert discussion.